This Week's Post

USAID wins fight against book bans

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I don’t think Michela Wrong was comparing me to the devil (or at least I hope not). But I was responsible for helping an accomplished author distribute a book, helping her to let go, and as a bonus, having her eat crow!  What Other People Said "[Galeeb] was already hard at work, pulling together a multi-pronged distribution operation to bypass a gagged retail industry… As a devout atheist and hardened aid sceptic, I’m aware of the acute irony of being thus beholden both to the churches of Kenya and a US development agency. But I’m happy to eat crow. My critics will no doubt mutter darkly about CIA plots, but I wouldn’t mind if the Devil himself wanted to distribute It’s Our Turn to Eat. I am rather more concerned about the agenda of those who were determined to ensure no Kenyan ever got to read a book on sale across the globe. But knowing that 5,200 copies of my book—for that is what it will be—have reached the wananchi will allow me to let go." Source: Michela Wrong, “Advent...
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America at 250! Flags, faucets, and fireworks

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Happy independence day America. Congress ratified the declaration of independence on July 4, 1776; therefore, today, we officially start our 250th year as a nation. Birthdays mark the end of a year lived, not the beginning. If you say you're 40, you've completed 40 years and are now living your 41st.

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So what will we be reflecting on a year from now? Considering all of this, how will we mark the end of 250? 

We know what we have to deal with:

  • Global geopolitical forces and unrest
  • Economic turmoil
  • Domestic polarized political perspectives (see November 2024 election post entitled It’s Over. Now can we really get to know each other?); 
  • Climate change 
  • Worsening effects of natural disasters including heat, fire, and flooding

All we know for sure is what Congress ratified in 1776, how America was born: 

“The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.”  — Declaration of Independence, 1776
Disclaimer: the views expressed in this post are solely my own, published under my first amendment rights, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Government or any of its current or former federal agencies.

What About Faucets?

When something stops working the way it's supposed to work, either because of a malfunction or an external force, we either throw it away, break it down and rebuild it, or reboot it and hope for the best. We’ve all rebooted phones, laptops, and even cars. Doctors (and paramedics) have even figured out how to reboot people. The 1776 events were a reboot (and a re-branding from the 13 colonies to the United States of America) as were Iran (1979) and Russia (1917).

My most unique reboot was the kitchen faucet. It has a fancy electric touch sensor. Last winter, after the power went out, I could not turn on the water because the sensor switch overrides the manual tap. Solution? Reboot it using the jump start option from the car’s battery booster. 

What Do I Think?

Honestly? I’m not sure. Not this year.

My readers know I always have a [strong] opinion. Well, today, I don’t. No one can know what possibly could happen over the next 365 days. There are too many permutations and combinations. Too many wild cards including the Supreme Court and other world leaders. But if New York elects a brown 33-year old Shia Muslim socialist democratic mayor then I have a lot of confidence in America’s reboot. Just like I was fully confident that I could jump start the faucet that dark winter day. 

Happy birthday!



What do others say? "Galeeb Kachra truly is one of a kind. A unique combination of optimism, can-do determination and relentless energy, he has the wiliness and moral integrity required to shake up sclerotic systems and sweep away logjams." (Michela Wrong, 2021)

Comments

  1. AnonymousJuly 4, 2025 at 1:35 PM

    For now, I’m just glad you’re still writing. I don’t know either… but I guess I’m gonna keep at what I know how to do. Which, as of yet, has not included rebooting a faucet. 😉

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousJuly 4, 2025 at 1:39 PM

      And I should add, yeah, I also think NY could be an example of the pendulum trying to swing back toward something positive. I hope.

      Delete

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